(39) “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

Hebrews 11:39

Explain:

From the Believers Bible Commentary:

11:39 God has borne witness to the faith of these OT heroes, yet they died before receiving the fulfillment of the promise. They did not live to see the Advent of the long awaited Messiah or to enjoy the blessings that would flow from His ministry.

11:40 God had reserved something better for us. He had arranged that they should not be made perfect apart from us. They never did enjoy a perfect conscience as far as sin was concerned; and they will not enjoy the full perfection of the glorified body in heaven until we are all caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess 4:13-18). The spirits of OT saints are already perfect in the presence of the Lord (Heb 12:23), but their bodies will not be raised from among the dead until the Lord returns for His people. Then they will enjoy the perfection of resurrection glory.

Believers Bible Commentary

To put it another way, the OT believers were not as privileged as we are. Yet think of their thrilling triumphs and tremendous trials! Think of their exploits and their endurance! They lived on the other side of the cross; we live in the full glory of the cross. Yet how do our lives compare with theirs? This is the cogent challenge of Hebrews 11.

These old testament believers obtained a good report through faith.  God imputed Christ’s righteousness to them for sure, but they did not in their lives see Christ’s fulfillment of those things.  God also allowed history to continue to fulfill those promises, and not let them enjoy that without having the possibility that we could receive those promises through Jesus Christ too.

Application:

We must be so thankful for and motivated to live in light of…:

• …the example of these Old Testament Saints.
• …the decision of God to allow us to be a part of this story of redemption.
• …the coming of God to raise the quick and the dead.

Response:

Thank you for salvation and all that means for us!